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Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey

9
£66.25

VERDICT:

9
10
Brilliant all-weather performance and race-inspired fit that comes at an exceptional price
Impressive water resistance
Plenty of reflective detailing
Decent breathability
Great price
Pocket access a little restrictive
Weight: 
332g
Contact: 
road.cc Recommends

This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

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The Galibier Sentinel blurs the lines on what defines a jacket and jersey thanks to its mixture of weatherproofing, lightweight race styling and short sleeves. It's not a new concept, but one that Galibier has executed very well indeed, and at a relatively bargain price.

Technically, the Sentinel is a jersey according to Galibier, and it's designed to work with just a baselayer, within an outdoor temperature range of 7-16°C.

> Buy this online here

It's been difficult to test the upper end of that range, what with it being the middle of winter, but I'd say that is a fair assumption of what's suitable. I've worn it on days when the temperature has got up to 13°C and been comfortable, only getting a bit over-warm when pushing on the hills.

At the other end I was fine down to about 5°C with just a summer baselayer underneath and a pair of arm warmers before I could start to feel a bit of a chill.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - with armwarmers.jpg

The Sentinel is for riding in foul weather, or at least when the chances are that those conditions might turn up at some point in your journey. It's a triple-layer jersey, with a laminate membrane sandwiched between the inner and outer layers.

> Buyer’s Guide: 14 of the best arm and leg warmers

For added protection from the rain it uses a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment, but rather than it being applied at the end of manufacturing, the fabric is treated before production starts, which makes it longer lasting according to Galibier.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - shoulders.jpg

The Sentinel isn't claimed to be fully waterproof. The material itself works very well against the rain, keeping the worst of a downpour out for 45 minutes to an hour or so, but because of the stretchy nature of the jersey Galibier hasn't been able to tape the seams, so you do get a bit of seepage.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - logo.jpg

At least you stay warm though. The windproofing is impressive. The final couple of weeks saw a mostly northerly wind blowing through and temperatures hovering just above freezing throughout the day. The Sentinel blocked it all, with no cold air getting through to my chest or upper arms.

When trying to keep elements like the wind and rain out, it can often mean that getting heat vapour expelled into the atmosphere becomes tricky, causing a 'boil in the bag' kind of effect. Galibier has got around that by using Lycra panels for the sides and underarms.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - sleeve.jpg

Not only does this allow some give in the garment, but the thinner sections let body heat escape, stopping the Sentinel getting overwhelmed. It's a good compromise.

When it comes to the fit, the Sentinel is performance orientated, so it's cut close. The main outer fabric used in the jersey isn't quite as elastic as a standard Lycra jersey so it's worth taking a close look at Galibier's comprehensive size guide to get it right.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - back.jpg

We were sent a medium to test, and while it fitted fine, I am right on the upper edge of the range for it; if that happens, Galibier recommends going up a size. If I was buying one for myself this would definitely make sense as it would give me just a little bit more room around the chest for a touch more comfort.

The shape is great, though, with a dropped tail for coverage and a front that is short enough to not see any bunching of the material.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - hem.jpg

The high neck does a great job of keeping the elements out, and the way it is cut at the back means it sits in close to your skin. I would like to see a zip garage, though, if I'm being really picky.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - collar.jpg
2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - collar inside.jpg

Round the back you have three deep pockets, with a fourth zipped valuables one on the right-hand side. They are a good size, but I did find that because of the fabric not stretching that much, they can be a little trickier than normal to access on the bike, especially if you are wearing full-finger gloves. It's not impossible, it just takes a little more effort than on a standard jersey. And at least nothing is going to fall out.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - pockets.jpg

In the rain, water beading down your back is only going to end up in one place: your pockets. Galibier has thought about this, which is why the bottoms of the pockets are constructed of a firm mesh for drainage.

Across the tops of the pockets is a reflective band, and above that is a full reflective pattern and logo which increase visibility impressively in the dark while not looking out of place in the daytime.

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - reflective.jpg

The whole jersey not only works brilliantly, it's also manufactured to a very high standard too. The stitching runs uniformly throughout the garment and is proving very durable. I have many items from Galibier in my wardrobe, ranging from gloves and overshoes through to deep winter jackets, some of them many years old, and I've never had an issue with the overall quality. 

2021 Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey - gripper.jpg

I've got this far without mentioning it, but the Sentinel is very much along the same lines as the Castelli Gabba.

The Gabba feels ever so slightly lighter than the Galibier when you hold the two side by side, but I'm not really going to put that out there as a criticism as it's barely noticeable when you are wearing it. Performance-wise, I'd say there is very little in it.

Price-wise, though, the latest Gabba RoS short sleeve has an rrp of £175, compared to £66.25 for the Sentinel!

> Buyer’s Guide: 9 of the best wet weather racing jerseys

Another similarly styled jersey is the Lusso Repel Corsa V2, a top that I really liked and still wear to this day. When I reviewed it back in 2018 it was £129.99, but that has now dropped to £99.99, which puts it more in line with the Galibier, though it's still another £30 or so.

Conclusion

The Sentinel is a very good jersey. It works really well in a whole range of weather conditions and temperatures, which should see you get plenty of use out of it during the three cooler seasons. The fact that it can perform so well, combined with the excellent build quality, just makes the price look even more exceptional.

Verdict

Brilliant all-weather performance and race-inspired fit that comes at an exceptional price

road.cc test report

Make and model: Galibier Sentinel Foul Weather Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Galibier says, "A VERSATILE CYCLING JERSEY TO KEEP YOU WARM WHEN TRAINING IN ALL WEATHERS.

'With only a light base layer, you can ride with comfort. A jersey that lets you click in to your pedals under threatening clouds, without a worry. The technical material will block fierce north winds and keep you warm in long races or longer days."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Galibier lists:

Light 9000/ 10000 Triple layer membrane (WP/VP) DWR treated

Windproof anti-stick zip.

At least 2 metres of technical fabric in each smooth.

Articulated fleece collar to gently wrap around the neck in every cycling position

Rear pockets, with 3M reflective trim to increase visibility.

3 high stretch rear pockets with Mesh drainage feature.

Silicone waist band to keep the jacket locked in place.

Double stitching throughout.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

Galibier's sizing guide is spot on, but if you are on the upper edge of the sizing like me than definitely go up one.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Galibier recommends a 30 degree wash and following that I have had no issues with the top.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It keeps the elements out while offering plenty of breathability.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Excellent weatherproofing.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Pocket access is a little tricky with full gloves on.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It undercuts the similar Gabba by over £100 and is also cheaper than Lusso's offering by a fair margin.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

There are a couple of little niggles, like the lack of a zip garage and the access to the pockets, but they can't take away the from the awesome performance against the weather, the overall quality and the comfort. Taking the price into account too, it's exceptional.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

9 comments

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 3 years ago
0 likes

...have to say, looking at the temperature range on this, riding out wearing something gabba-esque - and s/s - with the temperature gauge showing less than double digits fills me with dread. I'm either nesh, getting old, or not trying hard enough...or all three, but I'm really feeling it this winter. Just heading out now and its 4'C...not nearly enough

Avatar
Yorky-M replied to Chris Hayes | 3 years ago
0 likes

I used this jersey in the 3 early season races last winter before the lockdown, paired with Sporful no-rain armwarmers. One race was two and a bit hours in rain and felt warm and not overheating. Bought it for racing, but since have used it all last spring solo rides when there was a chill and took it touring into Scotland. I think the black is nicer than the red above.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to Chris Hayes | 3 years ago
1 like

If you are an arm warmers kind of person who likes to strip them off as you get warm then this is your kind of jacket.  If you are willing to tolerate warmer arms in rainy weather then the Long Sleeve version - Mistral - might float your boat more.

Gabba = Sentinel

Perfetto = Mistral

No sleeve version = Zoncolan

I dont see the point of something short sleeve and waterproof tbh -(though I have a SS Stolen Goat Orkaan that I never wear).

I wear a Merino LS Base Layer + Mistral + Zoncolan on the coldest days. <5C in freezing fog. 

Avatar
Chris Hayes replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
0 likes

I'll have a look at the Mistral when I'm allowed out again.  For the moment I'm riding with an Assos Ultraz Winter Jacket plus an underlayer.

If it gets colder than 3'C then I've worn a merino jersey too, but I've also tried a Rapha hardshell and a gabba underneath...

For someone who's lived a chunk of his life in Norway I really don't like the cold. 

Avatar
daflj replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
0 likes

I looked at the Galibier website and thought from the description that the Mistral seemed more like a long-sleeved Gabba than a Perfetto. I wondered if the Gino Pro wind jacket might have been more like the Perfetto; but your description suggests otherwise Mr S?

Avatar
iandusud | 3 years ago
3 likes

It sounds like a s/s jersey version of their Mistral jacket which is the best bit of kit I've bought in over 40 years of cycling. 

Avatar
half_wheel79 replied to iandusud | 3 years ago
0 likes

+1 on that, I have had a Mistral pro jacket for about 3/4 years and its been absolutely fantastic. Saw me through the festive 500 last year and kept me warm in blizzards with just a merino base layer underneath. Its just started to come apart ( albeit only one of the velcro patches) a little which coincides nicely with their new version due out next week. 

Avatar
iandusud replied to half_wheel79 | 3 years ago
1 like

Worth noting that Galibier offer a repair service for their garments which, apart from the potential money saving, is a very refreshing attitude towards sustainability in our throwaway society. (I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't treat yourself to a new jacket)  1

Avatar
hbeevers | 3 years ago
0 likes

Ordered one of these at the weekend so pleased to see such a good review. Looking forward to it arriving now!

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